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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Kathryn Xu

Garrett Crochet #45 of the Chicago White Sox delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field on April 24, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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Here’s How The White Sox Can Still Win At Least 63 Games

Ranger Suárez #55 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch in the top of the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park on April 16, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Ranger Suárez Will Not Lie To You

Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees reacts after a call made by home plate umpire umpire Angel Hernandez #5 during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium.

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This May Be Hard To Believe, But It Gets Even Worse Than Ángel Hernández

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 25: Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara of the Los Angeles Angels looks on against the New York Mets at Citi Field on August 25, 2023 in New York City. The Angels defeated the Mets 3-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Angels v New York Mets

The Wildest Stuff Alleged In The Criminal Complaint Against Ippei Mizuhara

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers, pictured with his translator, Ippei Mizuhara, prepares for a game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch.

Chicago White Sox v Los Angeles Dodgers

Not Even An Ippei Mizuhara Guilty Plea Will Take MLB Off The Hook

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Lauren Theisen

Blood pressure going up? New York – Goggle-eyed, this Dodger fan tears his hair and clenches a cigar to bits in his teeth as he listens to the battle

MLB’s Radio Streams Still Suck

<p>A Rockies fan by birth and a White Sox fan by geographic proximity, Annie Howard spends her non-suffering sports moments ardently rooting for the Nuggets and the Orioles.</p>


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Annie Howard

an aerial view of an empty Guaranteed Rate Field

Ballparks Remain Empty On What Would Have Been Baseball’s Opening Day

How To Fix Chicago’s White Sox–Shaped Black Hole

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David Roth

Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco strikes a prayerful gesture after getting the last out of his no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 1, 2024.

Toronto Blue Jays v Houston Astros

The More Random The Pitcher, The Better The No-Hitter

Shohei Ohtani strikes out in an uncharacteristically undistinguished and unflattering way against the San Francisco Giants. The Distraction logo is at upper right.

San Francisco Giants v Los Angeles Dodgers

Podcasts

Subtraction By Subtraction, With Ray Ratto

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies salutes the crowd after the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park.

Cincinnati Reds v Philadelphia Phillies

A Homers-Only Diet Suits Bryce Harper Just Fine

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<div>Zach Buchanan has covered Major League Baseball for more than a decade, for the <em>Arizona Republic</em>, <em>Cincinnati Enquirer,</em> and most recently The Athletic. He also has been published in <em>The New York Times</em>, <em>Washington Post</em>, FanGraphs and <em>Baseball America</em>. He lives in Phoenix, where he prepares for the inevitable water crisis by living off Dr Pepper instead.</div>
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Zach Buchanan

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 15: Houston Astros hitting coach Troy Snitker watches infielder Grae Kessinger hit in the cages during workouts for Houston Astros pitchers and catchers at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Astros Spring Training Day 2

How Do Coaches Coach When Players Have Their Own Guys?

A screenshot of an ESPN broadcast, featuring a live win probability graphic displaying a 35-percent Dodgers win probability, and Chris Taylor making a beaver face.

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ESPN’s Win Probability Graphic Wants To Give You Gambling Brain

Garrett Crochet #45 of the Chicago White Sox throws in the first inning of the Opening Day game against the Detroit Tigers.

Detroit Tigers v Chicago White Sox

Chicago White Sox Make Opening Day History (Derogatory)

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Ray Ratto

Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs looks kind of wistful during the Opening Day game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on March 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

Chicago Cubs v Texas Rangers

A Fan’s Guide To Opening Day Cope

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Chris Thompson

Ramones Baseball

Baseball!

Shohei Ohtani #17 and Will Ireton of the Los Angeles Dodgers are seen in the dugout during the 2024 Seoul Series game between San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.

2024 Seoul Series – San Diego Padres v Los Angeles Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani’s Presser Reveals The Gaps In Translation

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers talks to his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara in the dugout during the 2024 Seoul Series game between Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

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Shohei Ohtani’s Interpreter Gives Two Different Stories

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21: Dylan Cease #84 of the Chicago White Sox looks on during a spring training workout at Camelback Ranch on February 21, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Chicago White Sox Workout

Dylan Ceases Toiling For The White Sox

J.D. Davis #7 of the San Francisco Giants singles in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies.

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The Giants Used A Loophole To Screw Over J.D. Davis

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Albert Burneko

(Original Caption) New York, NY: Converging arrows show the spot where a prodigious home run blasted by Mickey Mantle landed, during the first game of the Yanks-Senators twin-bill at Yankee Stadium on May 30. The towering shot, traveling 370 feet, struck the facade of the right field roof, just a few feet from going out of the stadium. No one has ever hit a fair ball out of this ball park. Mantle's monumental clout, which hit the stands 118 feet above the ground, came with two men on base and sparked the Yanks to a 4-3 win over Washington.

Trajectory of Mickey Mantle’s Home Run

A Scholarly Discourse On Which Types Of Dingers Are Best

TEMPE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21: Matt Moore #55 of the Los Angeles Angels poses for a portrait during photo day at Tempe Diablo Stadium on February 21, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona.

Los Angeles Angels Photo Day

How To Watch Spring Training Baseball

Christy Mathewson head and shoulders portrait photo

Christy Mathewson, Major League Baseball Player, New York Giants, Head and Shoulders Portrait by Paul Thompson, 1910

How To Throw A Baseball And Live Forever

Shohei Ohtani runs the bases after hitting a home run

Enjoy Shohei Ohtani’s Dodger Highlights While They’re Still Harmless

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Kelsey McKinney

CINCINNATI, OH - JULY 07: Eugenio Suarez #7 of the Cincinnati Reds throws the ball against the Cleveland Indians in the third inning at Great American Ball Park on July 7, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Cleveland Indians v Cincinnati Reds

The Answer To MLB’s Pants Problem Is Vests

Blake Snell #4 of the San Diego Padres pitches in the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies on September 19, 2023 at Petco Park in San Diego, California.

Colorado Rockies v San Diego Padres

Nobody’s Buying Blake Snell

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